Lebanon War Miracles

What kind of damage would you expect from 3,870 missiles?

The first burst of missiles on Tzfat fell in the commercial center of the city, hitting the Tzalil Center which has many stories and offices. It was 2:40 in the afternoon, an hour when the city is teeming with people.

Although other towns along the border had been previously shot at, Tzfat residents didn't believe missiles could reach them. Tzfat had been outside of range for many years. Then, without any prior warning, missiles fell in the heart of the commercial center.

Missiles usually blow up when they hit something hard. Their immense speed results in the explosion and momentum forcing the missile's propelling charge into a hole created by the explosion. For instance, when it hits a house, the missile's entire destructive charge penetrates the house and explodes into thousands of pieces.

In the first attack on Tzfat, the first missile fell on the roof of a shopping mall, making a direct hit on the large air conditioning unit positioned there. It was a relatively new building and the air conditioner set up on the roof was a huge device made of metal and tin. It was hard enough to cause the missile to explode. It shattered the air conditioner with ear-piercing noise. But not one person was injured.

A Tzfat resident relates: "We knew that a war was going on and we knew that terrorists had shot missiles on the army base in Meron the night before. Despite this, we didn't believe that missiles could fall on Tzfat. Even when we heard the first missile falling, it still didn't register. Add to this the fact that during the first time it fell, you are standing helplessly. You can't stop the missiles, you don't know what to do, where to flee, which place is protected and what else! Can a missile pulverize an entire building? Perhaps you should flee the building? Maybe you should hide inside it instead? Maybe you should go down to the shelter? Where is it? Does this building even have a shelter? These were the questions that reeled through the minds of each one of us. We understood only too soon that the next missiles might wound us, only that this realization couldn't keep up with the speed of the missiles that fell one after the other, hitting Tzfat 's commercial center time and again."

Seconds later the second missile made another direct hit on the roof of a building filled with visitors... but didn't penetrate.

I met Yaakov Shitreet, the engineer who had built the shopping mall, a few days later. I praised him for the roof he had cast for the building which was strong enough to withstand the powerful concussion of the missile.

He stared at me, laughed, and said I was making a serious mistake. This roof was made of plain blocks and bricks, but it had one strong beam in it. Because it had to support the entire ceiling, the beam was made particularly durable with reinforced cement and iron reinforcements.

The missile had hit the beam and couldn't penetrate. Its fragments scattered all around and shattered the windows of the building, but didn't cause any loss in life.

Population Centers

Hezbollah's enhanced aiming ability also shocked Tiberias residents. Raphael Terebelsi, who was in Tiberias's Operations Room, relates, "It was in the middle of the war. We were preparing bombardment countermeasures and we knew that Tiberias was on the map of the terrorists across the border. A large part of Tiberias' residents had left the city at the beginning of the war and the only ones who remained were those who couldn't go to a hotel, who didn't have relatives to take them in, etc. Shikun Daled, a neighborhood in Tiberias, was filled with many residents who had no choice but to remain behind.

"In the Operations Room we hoped that if missiles hit Tiberias, they wouldn't hit Shikun Daled. It has ten-floor and higher buildings. Hitting such buildings would be especially lethal since the residents from the higher floors wouldn't be able to descend in time to the shelter. The missiles usually hit their destination within 15 seconds of the siren sounding.

"At the beginning of the war, missiles fell in every part of the city. What caught our attention is the fact that at this stage of the war, all the missiles were being aimed only at the neighborhoods that remained populated.

"I thought we should check that out. Could the terrorists have insider information from collaborators of one kind or another?

"That day, as soon as we heard the siren wailing, I asked our look-out to report where the missiles fell so we could send firefighting and first aid teams to the place where it fell."

"'The missile fell in Shikun Daled,' the look-out said in a trembling voice.

"We all turned pale. This neighborhood was packed with people. May God have compassion on us!

"In our prayers, we say, 'The Beneficent One -- for His mercies never end. The Merciful one -- for His kindnesses never finish.' When we reached the area, we saw that the miracles really never end. They simply change shape each time anew. We shouldn't think that God can't save us if missiles hit Shikun Daled or He can't save us if we have a Fifth Column among us.

"What happened? This neighborhood was crowded, but between every building there were small parking lots. Since most of the residents don't own private cars and mostly use buses, the city planners didn't prepare large parking lots for the buildings. But these small parking lots were large enough to absorb all the missiles that the Hezbollah murderers sent against us.

"All the missiles fired at Shikun Daled -- every one, without exception -- hit the parking lots. The few cars that were there were damaged by the missile fragments but the many residents who remained in the area were saved."

3870 Rockets

3870 rockets of various kinds, large and small, were shot towards the northern towns. This number doesn't include the number of mortar shells fired at Kiryat Shemona and the towns and outposts in close proximity the security fence.

What were the results?

Thirty-nine citizens were killed.

If one missile killed eight people in the railway depot in Haifa, what were 3970 missiles as well as hundreds of mortar shells that fell near the border capable of doing? This outcome is a miracle.

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Visitor Comments: 15

(15)
Anonymous,
May 9, 2014 10:19 PM

We Pray for the True Miracle

Mother' s Day was founded by the Women of the American Revolution. It was created to protest the Civil War. These women protested sending their children to war. We pray for the day that these women ' s prayer' s are answered all over the world. How do we teach people to become civilized enough to not see war as the solution ? " We do not see the sword of murder as the answer ; but the book of justice". How do we make people understand that there are alternatives to war ? How do we stop the hate ? " War what is it good for ? Absolutley nothing . "
.

(14)
Moo,
February 17, 2010 2:54 PM

Hezbollah is the one that needs luck

The islamic fundamentalists need to protect their God because their god never answers. But the God of Israel is a living God who protects His followers.

(13)
LawrenceKocen,
November 5, 2006 5:22 PM

I am amazed

i am amazed as to why the media does not talk about the damage that was done in Israel. They seem to glaze over that portion and all they show is the poor people that have started the trouble. Yes there is the people that are caught in the middle and I am sorry for them. But the Israel people are also caught up in it as well.

Awesome> Reminds of Scripture and how has always taken care of His People.

God is a Faithful God. He loves Israel.He is a our defender, Shield, and Guide. He is the Same Yesterday, today and forever. Judy

(10)
ouaies90@hotmail.com,
October 31, 2006 2:06 PM

It is not a miraccle

How could it be a miracle while there is deaths and injured. A miracle should be total no one death and no injured. It's only a luck.God help Hezbollah

(9)
Anonymous,
October 31, 2006 1:01 PM

example of a miracle

My son-in-laws parents live on Har Canaan in Zefat. A Katyusha landed in the back yard meters away from where the grandchildren were playing. A true miracle, it sunk into a sandy area. Much of the yard is stony. The children were unharmed.

(8)
RobertBlomberg,
October 31, 2006 11:49 AM

It is a miracle but it may be more?

Yes, it is a miracle how the missles didn't do anymore damage than what was done. However, the very fact that 39 of our brothers and sisters died is sad. consider it was 39 one less than 40 lashes. they 40 means death to one who recieves those lashes. G-D must be encouraging us 39 deaths and was it only 39 missles the war before, why the repeating pattern? Is G-D speaking through these events, we are going to win, yes!R. Blomberg

(7)
daniela,
October 30, 2006 10:57 PM

very interesting article. Thank you!

For those of us who are not home in Israel, describtion like Miyanei provides is really appreciated.

(6)
Eliezer,
October 30, 2006 12:01 PM

Re: "Not A Miracle!" by Anonymous

It is a serious mistake to dwell on those who died and were injured IF it causes one to ignore the hundreds who did NOT die, and the thousands who were NOT injured. Where does it say that miracles must be all-inclusive and painless?

Ultimately we must be strong minded and confident in the face of our enemies. Thrill to the experience of G-d's intervention on behalf of His people. This doesn't contradict compassion for the dead and wounded, nor the need for prayer to G-d for his assistance.

(5)
Anonymous,
October 30, 2006 5:19 AM

NOT A MIRACLE!

it is not a miracle for the ones who died;it is not a miracle for the ones who were maimed and otherwise injured. it is not a miracle for those who lost their homes and work places. itisnota miracle for those who lost loved ones. itis not a miracle for those soldiers who were kidnapped and are still being held in god only knows what dreadful conditions. it is not a miracle for those soldiers who bravely went to war at the behest of this perfidious government who put them into harm's way and did not have the courage of these soldiers or the citizens who willingly endured. what this shamesless government did is allow the jewish people to once more experience in bomb shelters, show the world that jews can be forced to not fully defend themselves. ben gurion said that the jewish people and the jewish state must be armed; what good is that if the state does not do all to use those arms to defend the people properly.

lily

(4)
VictoriaSonnenberg,
October 29, 2006 4:37 PM

Lebanon Miracles

This is proof that God is not dead! No one else could have protected Israel in such a wonderful way! I read the article about the atheists, too, and I thought of how God has protected Israel from the time of it's inception. God is good--all the time! How can anyone wonder about God's existence, when His daily miracles are all around us? Thank you for sharing about the Lebanon miracles. It keeps me looking up! God's people are always a part of my daily prayers. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, too.

(3)
YisraelDovBerRobinson,
October 29, 2006 12:07 PM

This year living in the Sukkah took on new meaning.

On Sukkot we read in the Haftorah that there will someday be a war between Gog and Magog. Rabbi Hersh points out that witin the word Gog is the Hebrew word for roof, Gag. Gog depended on its protection by its roofs. But, a roof is the opposite of a Sukkah. Miyanei Hayeshua's article shows that Israel was not protected by its roofs but by its reliance on the Succah, the protection from without that comes only from HaShem. This year living in the Sukkah took on new meaning.

(2)
Anonymous,
October 29, 2006 11:14 AM

You left out an important part of the story...

The poster above left out an important part of the story of the Hanit...

Moshe continued with more miracles, including the engine room burnt to a crisp but a pair of tefillin was found unscathed. If that's not enough, amidst the embers of destruction, the sailors found a Book of Psalms - also unscathed - opened to Psalm 124. Read Psalm 124 and your hair will stand up!

(1)
Anonymous,
October 29, 2006 7:11 AM

The Miracles of Hanit

The other day, a young Israeli Naval sergeant boarded the northbound train in Tel Aviv. I was on my way to a moshav in the Haifa area and he was returning to his base in the Haifa port. He was a crewman on board the Hanit when it was hit in Beirut.

The sailor, who we'll call Moshe, began to relate the dozens of miracles that happened aboard the Hanit the night that it was hit. "It was Friday night. Usually, the crew would eat Friday night dinner in two shifts. But this time, since we were in a war zone, our three religious crewmen went to Lt. Col. A - the skipper - and begged that we all need God's help. The first miracle is that the skipper agreed to leave only 4 sailors on the bridge, and allowed the whole entire crew to pray together; we piled into the chapel, and said a lengthy mincha and Kabbalat Shabbat. I was bored and wanted to eat quickly then catch a few hours sleep, because I had the midnight watch. But, I stayed with the rest of the crew. Then, all of us had a Shabbat meal together - 15 different sailors said Kiddush, each in the custom of his fathers; I'm talking about guys that aren't (weren't) even religious! The meal was drawn out - I had a headache and was dying to sleep. The religious guys started to say the grace after the meal, and BOOOMM! The missile hit, but on the opposite end of the craft. It should have sank the boat, but it hit a crane right above the chopper landing pad. What a miracle! At least twenty other crewmen aboard the Hanit should have been killed, but they were saved by Shabbat dinner on the other end of the ship.

"The newspapers don't write about the miracles that we all saw. I ran to my bunk on the deck right below the landing pad. It was charcoal; my metal bunk was completely melted down and all my possessions were ashes. If I hadn't been detained in the chapel and in the dining hall for Shabbat meal, I'd have been charcoal too. I haven't stopped thanking God since - I've changed my life..."

The train was nearing my station, so I gave Moshe a blessing and a fatherly embrace, and we parted. The Hanit took a direct hit from a Hezbollah missile, but Moshe has turned the navy's setback into a victory.

I just got married and have an important question: Can we eat rice on Passover? My wife grew up eating it, and I did not. Is this just a matter of family tradition?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

The Torah instructs a Jew not to eat (or even possess) chametz all seven days of Passover (Exodus 13:3). "Chametz" is defined as any of the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats, and rye) that came into contact with water for more than 18 minutes. Chametz is a serious Torah prohibition, and for that reason we take extra protective measures on Passover to prevent any mistakes.

Hence the category of food called "kitniyot" (sometimes referred to generically as "legumes"). This includes rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, peanuts, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds. Even though kitniyot cannot technically become chametz, Ashkenazi Jews do not eat them on Passover. Why?

Products of kitniyot often appear like chametz products. For example, it can be hard to distinguish between rice flour (kitniyot) and wheat flour (chametz). Also, chametz grains may become inadvertently mixed together with kitniyot. Therefore, to prevent confusion, all kitniyot were prohibited.

In Jewish law, there is one important distinction between chametz and kitniyot. During Passover, it is forbidden to even have chametz in one's possession (hence the custom of "selling chametz"). Whereas it is permitted to own kitniyot during Passover and even to use it - not for eating - but for things like baby powder which contains cornstarch. Similarly, someone who is sick is allowed to take medicine containing kitniyot.

What about derivatives of kitniyot - e.g. corn oil, peanut oil, etc? This is a difference of opinion. Many will use kitniyot-based oils on Passover, while others are strict and only use olive or walnut oil.

Finally, there is one product called "quinoa" (pronounced "ken-wah" or "kin-o-ah") that is permitted on Passover even for Ashkenazim. Although it resembles a grain, it is technically a grass, and was never included in the prohibition against kitniyot. It is prepared like rice and has a very high protein content. (It's excellent in "cholent" stew!) In the United States and elsewhere, mainstream kosher supervision agencies certify it "Kosher for Passover" -- look for the label.

Interestingly, the Sefardi Jewish community does not have a prohibition against kitniyot. This creates the strange situation, for example, where one family could be eating rice on Passover - when their neighbors will not. So am I going to guess here that you are Ashkenazi and your wife is Sefardi. Am I right?

Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moses ben Nachman (1194-1270), known as Nachmanides, and by the acronym of his name, Ramban. Born in Spain, he was a physician by trade, but was best-known for authoring brilliant commentaries on the Bible, Talmud, and philosophy. In 1263, King James of Spain authorized a disputation (religious debate) between Nachmanides and a Jewish convert to Christianity, Pablo Christiani. Nachmanides reluctantly agreed to take part, only after being assured by the king that he would have full freedom of expression. Nachmanides won the debate, which earned the king's respect and a prize of 300 gold coins. But this incensed the Church: Nachmanides was charged with blasphemy and he was forced to flee Spain. So at age 72, Nachmanides moved to Jerusalem. He was struck by the desolation in the Holy City -- there were so few Jews that he could not even find a minyan to pray. Nachmanides immediately set about rebuilding the Jewish community. The Ramban Synagogue stands today in Jerusalem's Old City, a living testimony to his efforts.

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

It is the nature of a person to be influenced by his fellows and comrades (Rambam, Hil. De'os 6:1).

We can never escape the influence of our environment. Our life-style impacts upon us and, as if by osmosis, penetrates our skin and becomes part of us.

Our environment today is thoroughly computerized. Computer intelligence is no longer a science-fiction fantasy, but an everyday occurrence. Some computers can even carry out complete interviews. The computer asks questions, receives answers, interprets these answers, and uses its newly acquired information to ask new questions.

Still, while computers may be able to think, they cannot feel. The uniqueness of human beings is therefore no longer in their intellect, but in their emotions.

We must be extremely careful not to allow ourselves to become human computers that are devoid of feelings. Our culture is in danger of losing this essential aspect of humanity, remaining only with intellect. Because we communicate so much with unfeeling computers, we are in danger of becoming disconnected from our own feelings and oblivious to the feelings of others.

As we check in at our jobs, and the computer on our desk greets us with, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. Today is Wednesday, and here is the agenda for today," let us remember that this machine may indeed be brilliant, but it cannot laugh or cry. It cannot be happy if we succeed, or sad if we fail.

Today I shall...

try to remain a human being in every way - by keeping in touch with my own feelings and being sensitive to the feelings of others.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...